White-tailed Sabrewing

The White-tailed Sabrewing ( Campylopterus ensipennis) is a large hummingbird that breeds in northeastern Venezuela and Tobago. It was thought to have become extinct in Tobago after hurricane Flora in 1963, but the population has now largely recovered. This species now features on Tobago’s environmental posters under the nickname “Campy”.

This bird inhabits mountain forests. The female White-tailed Sabrewing lays its eggs in a relatively large cup nest on a low branch.

The White-tailed Sabrewing is 12 cm long and weighs 10 g. The black bill is 25 cm long and slightly decurved. The adult male is bright green with a shiny blue throat and a white moustachial stripe. The three outer pairs of feathers of the tail are white. The sexes are similar, but the female is duller.

The food of this species is nectar, taken mainly from undergrowth flowers. Male White-tailed Sabrewing perch conspicuously and defend their territories aggressively against other hummingbirds. This large species is fearless and inquisitive. The call is a rolled chinzink.

References

• Birds of Venezuela by Hilty, ISBN 0-7136-6418-5
• Birds of Trinidad and Tobago by ffrench, ISBN 0-7136-6759-1